EASTER SNAPSHOTS ADDENDUM

3/31/13 A perfect note from France for the end of a blessed Easter Day.

Thanks Aggie. Maybe someday I will get to meet you face to face!

SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: EASTER WEEK '13

3/31/13  A great week approaching "Resurrection Day"---too bad Google only acknowledged today as Chavez's Birthday. But God.....showed me throughout this last week the ins and outs and joys of celebrations within the community of faith. What blessings I experienced!

Sara and Jeanette make every Wednesday night special for our own household of faith!

Homemade for Easter lunch in Batesville, MS using "passed down" cake forms, the best kind!

Flowers picked prior to the cold snap---I so love that my "matching" cross and mug were gifts from 2 different people, from 2 different TN counties, who went at 2 different times  to MS to shop & both thought of me. 

April in her Easter bonnet....

"Beneath the cross of Jesus I fain would take my stand..."

Around the kitchen table with family for  Easter lunch

Late afternoon delivery by Lilly, my favorite Easter bunny  and her  helpful daughters, who were rice girls in our wedding----that's how far back we go! What a perfect cap to a great week with other Christians!

DR. SEUSS, POSITIVELY

3/30/13 As Theatre Works actors explored from the Jungle of Nool and McElligot's Pool to Solla Sollew and Whoville, the "mostly young" audience was enthralled by the simple set and the vivid characters of "Seussical the Musical."

But....along the way some great life lessons in kindness and friendship were shown, especially through Horton the Elephant and Gertrude McFuzz, a little bird with only one feather. Perseverance was taught as Horton KEPT looking  for his friends on a small speck of dust as he searched over 1 million clover.
Dogged determination. Because...."A person's a person. No matter how small!

Horton's character traits of steadfast determination coupled with stamina and tenacity continue as he endures the duping of lazy Mayzie La Bird, ridicule of friends, attacks of hunters and horrid weather conditions.....because...."I meant what I said and I said what I meant. An elephant's faithful 100 per cent!"

McElligot's Pool Residents

JoJo and the"small"  Whos from Whoville 

Ashley and Owen's favorite part---the Cat in the Hat riding  a tricycle!

Horton faithfully "sitting on Mayzie's Egg while his "friends" make fun of him.

Runaway Mayzie sees captured Horton who is still sitting on her egg after 51 weeks ---AND an "elephant-bird" is hatched. "True friend" Gertrude McFuzz agrees to help raise the baby.

What a great way to spend Friday night with 5 year old grandson, Owen and his 5 year old friend, Ashley, learning "positive" life lessons while having fun. I wonder if they heard all those "positives?

GOD SPEAKS

3/29/13 God speaks. He really does. The key to "hearing" from God is reading and studying the scriptures. Being in God's Word is paramount!

Last night as I worked on my Bible Study fellowship lesson, the following verses were given to compare. Genesis 35:13-14, Exodus 33:11, Deuteronomy 5:24, Ezekiel 3:22 and John 14:23-24. What was the common denominator? God speaking.

Of course it was!! Once again God confirmed to me that my blogging this week was where He wanted it to be! What an affirmation.

• Genesis 35:13--God spoke (talked, KJV) with Jacob and "Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he had spoken with him (God) 
• Exodus 33:11--the Lord speaks to Moses face to face "as one speaks to a friend." 
• Deuteronomy 5:24--Israelites hearing from Moses after God had given the "Ten Commandments"say, "we have seen today that God speaks with man, yet he lives." 
• Ezekiel 3:22--To Ezekiel, God's prophet and watchman to the house of Israel; God said, "whenever you hear a word from My mouth," (v.17) warn them from Me. After E's obedience God said to him, “Get up, go out to the plain, and there I will speak to you.” 
• John 14:23-24--Jesus' speaks in scripture the words of His Father that we might "hear" from God, "These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me."

DId you "hear" those words in your head as you read them? Do you see it? God spoke to me through words of scripture as I studied "ahead of time" for Monday's BSF lesson knowing that Easter week-end, being mainly spent with family, would not allow me much extra "study" time. So timely. His timing. His words of affirmation, just when I needed them!

How about you? Is God speaking to you right now? If not, get into His word and give Him a chance. He won't disappoint. He'll clearly speak to you right where you are. 

More clari-TEA needed

3/28/13 Kitchen table chat yesterday had JoLynn reminding me that hearing from God is a spiritual communication. Neither of us have ever heard a “deep grandfatherly” sounding voice speaking audibly to us---rather we have “heard” our own thoughts revealing truth from Him. The voice of the Lord seems to come to us in our own thoughts. Like an impression, a nudge or a check. To me a “check in my spirit” is like a mini-warning---a “better slow down and rethink that! If I don't have peace about it---that’s my “check---I know I need to look at the options….until I hear the voice of peace.

All of these thoughts are mine alone--gleaned through experience, nothing more. God’s voice might not come to others in this way.

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." (Rev 3:22, NIV) Believers make up God’s church, so we need to “listen for His Spirit.

GOD’s WORD--In order to actually “hear” from God we need to know about who God it. That helps us determine His character, thus making it easier to discern His voice. The Bible, God’s Word, is the only true source for that information. Too often folks see God as what they want Him to be or as culture labels Him to be. Those views can impair one’s “hearing.”

OTHER PEOPLE--God can use other people to “speak” His truth to us and offer godly counsel. He can use anyone BUT it’s safer to be lead by other believers. How can one even discern a true believer?

The Spirit itself beareth witness with (testifies to) our spirit, that we are the children of God: (Romans 8:16) That spirit is recognizable in others---it’s how we recognize ourselves and others as God’s children.

CIRCUMSTANCES---God uses these BIG time in my life. My cancer journey taught me lessons in forgiveness and trust. All were from Him---without me ever “hearing” an audible word.

Circumstances, advice from others, nudges.  How do I know they are from Him. Every “message” needs to be filtered through His word. Does it align with scripture? Does it promote His purpose by glorifying Him? The Bible is our most important tool in hearing God’s voice. His Word is like our policy and procedure manual.

God wants us to “get to know my voice”, as John 10:4 states, his “sheep follow him because they know his voice.” Discerning His voice will take time and work---but it’s so worth it.

Praying for my readers today that God will “pour out clari-TEA” on this topic.

clari-TEA

3/27/13

clariTEA---much is needed to concisely and accurately answer the question, “How does one hear God’s voice?” One will need to “sip” along with me these next few days in order to “strain” out the truth. A big gulp, all at once, could be “too hard to swallow.”

clariTEA needed from Thee to me!

Let’s start with examination. 

• Examine your heart. Ask, “Do I really want to hear what God has to say to me?” 
• Examine your mind. “Do I have God’s Word implanted there?” If not, ask self “Am I willing to do the work and study the scriptures?” 

If those answers are yes, then start here.

Examine surroundings---are they conducive to listening---not just hearing but really listening? A busy lifestyle isn’t very conducive to hearing God’s voice---though He can “speak” anytime, anyplace.

Monday night at BSF, Sally Jones shared an acronym for “busy.”

B eing

U nder

S atan’s

Y oke

Busy-ness is what keeps us there in that wrong place---“yoked to the ways of the world.”

Psa. 46:10 might be a good place to start to “tune” our spiritual ears to hear the voice of God. Stillness in one’s spirit is more conducive to hearing Him speak in that “still, small voice” as He did to Elijah. (1 Kings 19:12, KJV)

But, the stage was set for Elijah to hear so as to listen. There was a need. He was zealous for the Lord. He was alone. Elijah was willing to go out and stand “in the presence of the Lord.”

Then God spoke to Elijah---after the great wind that tore mountains apart and the earthquake and the fire---“in a gentle whisper.” (I Kings 19:10-15)

One must pray for clarity (our clariTEA) as God’s word is read. 

BIG OOPS!

3/26/13 Seeing God's Hand Column"disappeared"---couldn't undo---last 2 posts wouldn't work so I tried to delete 2012 entires, thinking it was memory problem. Now, nothing is left. Some saved from this year, I hope. But God....maybe He's scaling me back. Was His voice "speaking" thru this incident with my computer? Now there's a great question. Just NOT sure of the answer. I do know God can speak thru circumstances. 

Maybe my "techie" Molly can help.

3/25/13 Corey's gift, an Easter CD w/ Fernando Ortega's, "I Will Sing of my Redeemer" on it!! Love it----I met Fernando in Nov. at "The Cove."

/26/13 Gift from girls at the Neighborhood Christian School (and their Miss Nancy) which enhanced my morning cuppa with a bit of Dove chocolate.3

intentionali-TEA---інтенціональність

3/26/13 The stage is set. A steaming "cuppa" of a full-bodied assam, brewed from loose tea, in my Aubry/Susan teacup, "Positively Easter" CD playing (gift from thoughtful son-in-law, Corey) and an open Bible.

A "cuppa," Corey's CD & My special teacup & open Bible on my lap"set" with specific intention---hearing from God.

Why this setting? My time with the Lord today is purposeful so I have consciously (intentionally) "set" the stage to prepare my heart to hear His answer to my question. 

The question isn't really mine. The question comes from one of my lovely Ukrainian ladies. "How do I hear God's voice? How do I "hear" Him like you do?

That question can be difficult to answer in any setting. But.....when the answer will be translated in part to both Russian and Ukrainian. I need conciseness. I need clarity. I need God's answer.

I probably need a whole tea pot of intentionali-TEA to keep me focused.

I have set the LORD continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. (Psalm 16:8)

intentionaliTEA (умисний чай)---I hope it works for me today! 

WOW Factor in Meditation

3/25/13 Just finished Anne Lamott's, Help, Thanks, Wow--the three essentials of prayers and though I don't always agree with her "theology," that gal has a way with words. Pastor Cole alluded to her book title in yesterday's Palm Sunday message during our "Festival of Praise." He concludes that "praise" is the "wow" of prayer. He quoted C.S. Lewis, definition of praise. Praise is inner health made audible.
So.....this week's meditation will be on "praise" verses. Verses which for me are easy to find in my "old" Bible because they are marked in purple, per Kay Arthur's instruction in the first Bible Study I ever attended.

Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord. (Psalm 150:6, KJV)

Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits
who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s (Psalm 103:1-5, NIV)

In KJV, word "bless," translation is used---but as applied to God, bless means to praise, implying a strong love & affection for him as well as a sense of gratitude. It's the chosen translation for "10,000 Reasons" song (Matt Redman) so naturally I love that version too!

A Mom and her special needs son join in the WOW of worship

Sing to the Lord a new song,.....for he has done marvelous things; Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. (Psalm 98:1 & 4, KJV)

The entire service was full of the WOW of praise---from scripture readings to songs. A "wow" factor that has me continuing to meditate praise worthy scriptures.

SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: FLORIDA FLORALS

3/24/13 Florals.....along with some topiaries and live oaks "dripping" with Spanish moss. It was the 20th year of the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival. A visual feast for us at Disney World.

SO SOUTHERN!

Disney's favorite couple w/ Goofy holding the 20th (floral) cake.

My favorite couple! 

WHAT COLOR!!!

TWININGS---MY KIND OF GARDEN.

A reminder of Beth, who has a "knack" for creative gardening.

Who doesn't love Lady and Tramp!

"MATER"--the boys favorite floral design!

All things bright and beautiful.......,

The Lord God made them all.

Each little flower that opens, .....

The river running by,.............

The ripe fruits in the garden,

He made them every one..............

The tall trees in the greenwood,

He gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell,
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well.
(Excerpts from Maker of Heaven and Earth by Cecil F. Alexander)