WOWS FOR WEDNESDAY!

WOWS = Week of Word Study. So....I had to share it today.

Jesus Always entry for wordsmith Doris' birthday (5/9) really had me considering parts of speech, in particular prepositions.

Prepositions express a relation to another word (usually a noun or pronoun)  For me, the noun/pronoun subject relation was Jesus Christ, by whose blood I am redeemed. 

• With Him, I can be honest. (Proverbs 30:5)
• I can be confident in Him. (2 Corinthians 3:4)
• I can lean on Him. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
• I can connect with Him through prayer anytime, anyplace. (Joshua 1:9)
• I can always trust in Him. (Psalm 9:10, 20:7)

For all of  His blessings, I say WOW! You are my God. (Psalm 31:14)

TUESDAY'S TO DOn't LIST

Consider the consequences of the negative "TO-Don'ts" on your list if they become your "DOs."

Switch your thinking. Realize that ultimately you control very few of the circumstances/happenings which life throws your way and you have no control over the responses of others. 

Re-consider those negatives......1) excessive planning, 2) fretting & complaining 3) comparing         4) excessive talking, self-promoting.

.......with a positive focus accepting that the "best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry." (R. Burns, to A Mouse")

To end on a more positive note...here are some "DOs" to counteract those DOnt's."

1. Allow the Lord to direct your steps. (Proverbs 3:6) 
2. Give thanks in everything. (1 Thessalonians 5:18) 
3. Accept self as God created you. (Psalm 139:14) 
4. Be quick to listen, listen, listen. (James 1:19)
5. In humility consider others more important than yourself. (Philippians 2:3)

DO remember that you are not in control! The most positive result is remembering Who is ultimately in control of all of life.

Generosi-TEA

"Giving" is often skipped over in sermons as pastors don't want to "upset" the congregants.

But God....in his word has lots to say about giving.

Last Sunday, I had the pleasure of re-living many of the familiar rituals of my childhood church. However, this time it wan't at the large First United Methodist in Hopkinsville Ky, but at a small church, Berlin Methodist in Lewisburg, TN. 

• The Apostles Creed. 
• Doxology. 
• Lord's Prayer in unison. 
• Responsive Reading. 
• Offering Plate passed.

Berlin UMC is a church where a few seek to serve many, even with their tithes and offerings, "sowing bountifully and giving cheerfully." (2 Corinthians 9:6-7)

I was impressed by their generosity, as most were widows or "senior" couples---you can do the math! "Doing good and sharing generously with others pleases the Lord." (Hebrews 13:16)

Plus, they sang my old time favorite, "Lord of the Dance," p.261 in the Methodist hymnal!

PEACE BEGINS .............

.....wherever we, the peacemakers, are located!

Seek peace and prosperity for your "town." It's a great place to start. The earlier, the better. That's why many SCS schools have an international fair as a culmination of their year long international studies! What an extravaganza! 

It all began with folk songs 

and dances with music from 10 countries, including Norway's Troll Dance.

Each grade focuses on a different country.But....the pre-school focuses on their town. Memphis. We met the "mayor," Elvis, a grizz and a miniature "Penny" along with the duck master of the Peabody Hotel with his ducks all in a row.. Each 4 yr. old knew their speech and then treated all visitors to BBQ (Central) as we left. 

Each grade presented information on their country through displays, speeches and other creative artsy ways.....from computer slide shows to pottery and hands on art. During the Russian tour we were treated to "bottle people" of famous astronauts, ballerina's and conductors, all created by the students.

Plus, an international food tasting......African fruits, French pastries and Nutella, Japanese sushi, Mexican tamales. Russian caviar, borscht and black tea along with good ole PBJ sandwiches from the USA!

Seek the welfare of the city I have deported you to. Pray to the LORD on its behalf, for when it has prosperity, you will prosper. (Jeremiah 29:7)

Seek peace and prosperity as Jeremiah says----wherever God has put you.

Why not start in an elementary school!

HEAVENLY EQUATION: 1+1=1

There is nothing quite like a family wedding! 

Kinship by blood joined with kinship through the Spirit of Christ. 

The simplicity of a service that glorifies and honors the Lord and even includes the sacrament of communion for the couple is a glory to behold.

Note the "cup and the bread" (right) a waiting the couple. 

As the Pastor said, "In the heavenly equation," marriage is when 2 people come together in the covenant relationship of 1, as man leaves father and mother and cleaves to his wife. (Genesis 2:24)

And when this stand is gladly taken, "Beneath the Cross of Jesus, " it is even sweeter! 

Hooray! Hooray! Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are on their way----from a wedding ceremony which glorified God, to a life of  committed faithfulness in marriage which will do the same.

 From a wedding supper table for 2, where little time was given by the hordes of well-wishers...

to a luscious trio of cakes where again "let them eat cake" was for others, with just a single bite for them.

As the celebration continued, a rainbow appeared....another covenant reminder. 

To me, that rainbow was a "God wink" for Robbie and Bjorn.

A perfect ending to a perfect day.....

.......and a perfect beginning for a life of 1+1 =2!

PRIVILEGE OF PRAYER!

Do you consider prayer a privilege? Or are you a sceptic? Do you take advantage of going before the "throne of grace" with your petitions? Or are you the cynic who criticizes those who do?

What a privilege it was to meet together today to pray with others who are burdened for out nation and approached the One who is the Answer with our requests. Prayer warriors standing together in one accord.

Today's National Day of Prayer theme was unity. Christians stood together as one, regardless of ethnicity or race, to call out to a holy God for peace in our land, security for Americans serving our nation and extra measures of God's mercy on our the United States of America.

Uni-TEA a great cuppa to serve today to believers in for our great nation which was founded on biblical principals. I consider it a privilege. A unifying one at that.

A GRAMMATICAL CONSIDERATION FOR WORDSMITH WEDNESDAY

All the musings I did on consider---vt (verb transitive w/ direct object) and vi (verb intransitive w/o direct object) got bogged down with the relating of consider as a verb to considerate as an adjective and consideration as a noun.

So---I'm only posting what has been the most helpful to me as I'm considering "consider." But those desiring more info on conjugating the verb "consider," click here and have fun!

I decide to just "focus" on synonyms, which I cannot even cite because in all my examining, I have forgotten where I found it..

My consideration has lead to lots of mind mulling (gerund)---of the turning over/tossing around variety! 

CONSIDER ASPECTS OF AGING

There seems to be a Walgreen's at every corner. You know, the corner of "happy and healthy. "

So....why is it the queue at the Walgreen's checkout seems to have many unsmiling folks with walkers, canes and sad eyes and an assistant who holds their arm! Many of these seniors, "keenagers" as FUMC in Hoptown calls them, seem to frequent the corner of sad/lonely & unhealthy, because of the life curves aging sends their way.

They get their red noses and red eyes from some of life's struggles, not from frequenting Walgreen's. (Although I do like Walgreen's premise of "Red Nose" Day to feed the hungry!)


Ministering to widows has given me a front row seat to aging. Unhealthy seems to show no partiality---not gender, not race, not religion and sometimes not even age. But when aging is one of the components of the affliction, one can use extra measures of grace---God's grace that is!

Many must make hard choices and changes in their latter years. So the key seems to be attitudinal.
God does not forsake us as we age and some of them cling to that truth!
Even when I'm old and gray (or glow in the dark white, DAL) as Psalm 73:23-24 reminds us.

Aging does bring many changes---some physical, some mental and many emotional, BUT GOD is in control and can aid us as we accept and then adapt. I know because I've seen it up close and personal in the lives of many of "my" widow friends.

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

Their lives have brought scriptural truth alive for me as I consider their lives.

CONSIDER HERITAGE-SHARING

Of all the influential women in my early years, several stand out. Mother, enough said. Gena, a grandmother who nurtured my love for reading at every turn. Mrs. Munday, my 4th grade teacher who helped me, a crying 10 yr. old, with "complicated" division. Christine, my across the street neighbor, who was like a grandmother to me.

But...it was my maternal grandmother, Mama Davenport, who was my spiritual mentor, before I even knew what that was. With her gnarled arthritic hands clasped in prayer and her humming in the kitchen as she stirred up stewed tomatoes in her white enamel saucepan with the red rim, her quiet gentle spirit spoke volumes. Her willingness to "walk" up that 2nd street hill to church every Sunday because she didn't drive and Dang-Dang would not take her. 

I've not known many women I could label as "never complaining," but Mama was a the top of that list. (1Timothy 6:6)

Her well worn Bible is one of my treasures and her underlined verses have offered much insight in to her suffering and her trust in the Lord. My other treasure is my heritage snowball bush.....

...which had its beginnings from her childhood home in Hampton Station, Kentucky. From there to Clarksville, TN, to my parents' home in Hopkinsville, Ky to my home in Memphis, TN, the bush is a living legacy of a small graceful woman who was and still is in many ways, my spiritual mentor.

A snowball  bush that has been propagated and cultivated throughout Memphis and to our son's home in Texas and most recently to our daughter's home in Richland Estates.

Not only do I love that this bush will be cultivated with love and spiritual memories, I love it that Molly and Corey's dog who is checking it out is named Millie. Millie was Daddy's pet name for mother. If he was getting really sassy he would call her Millie Lou.

What a legacy of love came to my mind as I typed. What a great heritage I have been given.
My "heritage snowball bush" is but a reminder to open her Bible and consider the best underlined passages to  share---not only with my children but also with my "grands," (Proverbs 13:22) as the heritage of the upright will abide forever.(Psalm 37:18, AMP)

CONSIDER VOTING

Consider voting----YES!
Yet......I was mainly considering avoiding crowds by voting early. I don't like to "waste time" standing in line. As always I had a book in tow.
I walked right in----there was no line. I should have been happy but it actually saddened me. 
It was also a comeuppance for me! How self-serving was I---worried about waiting instead of celebrating the privilege of living in a democracy which can freely elect its officials. Voting is not wasting time!
Know the character of the candidates and vote wisely. Such wisdom has Biblical roots.

Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders (Exodus 20:21)

Choose wise and discerning and experienced people from your tribes, (Deuteronomy 1:13)

Consider voting for the greater good of our country---that's my new mantra!