R.I.P.

R.I.P. NO. It's not Rest in Peace.

It's a play on words for wanting to be ripped. As athletes in my small town seemed to always be exercising for football and other sports, they spoke "gym-lish" often. Gym-lish is English with an athletic reference, some of which I didn't even understand as it was locker-room talk according to my brothers.

Ripped was one I did understand They wore muscle shirts to display their biceps.

These days it's even a part of a Keto Gummies ad.

Even a 5 year old gets the idea.*

What about our well-developed prayer muscles? We need to keep "exercising" even when we are weary and prayer seems difficult. Spiritual exercise is needed!

The acronym I needed today!

R emain

I n

P rayer

You will be fully and reverently spiritually ripped if you R.I.P.  daily!

* Photography by Owen a.k.a. Buh!

EARS TO HEAR!

Prayer is a reflection of one's dependence on God. (Rad Andrews)

Ask self, am I prepared to listen as I kneel or bow my head before his throne of grace or am I prompt to petition? When sharing with friends, am I the one doing all the "sharing?" Be "quick to listen" and "slow to speak"  as it says in James 1:19. Listening ears are ears that truly hear from God and others.

T.H.O.T. notes (cropped) from a recent (5/19/24) Pace Mckee Harvest sermon took listening to a whole new level.Do you think the Lord is trying to get my attention?

Expositional listening leads to action NOW….not tomorrow!

 

Listen carefully-- Luke 8:16-21

1)          Pews are for taking in but truth is for giving out! Listen evangelistically. Empty the pews for the glory of God & good of the church

2)          In pew…..Listen for introspection (secrets of your heart will come into light, you can’t hide from God) and repentance V.17 God’s character will not bend.

3)          Caution (“Heed”) and diligence in listening.. Don’t be ever hearing & not understanding. Listening carefully cannot leave you unchanged. Do you just want your ears tickled! Take heed. v.18 Take care how you listen! Listening is NOT passivity but activity. A heedful hearer. Listen as a church. Be in the pews gathered…..not virtual It’s not an individual activity---church, baptized believers listening to sermons together in pews keep us accountable. Plural (us)---preaching for y’all! Kids too. Consider how to spur one another to good deeds. Pray before, after and during your hearing.

4)          Obedience is a part of expositional listening ---relationship with Him. V.21 Hear it and do it. Apply it! 

Pace would probably ask, "Do I hear an Amen?"

Do you hear an AMEN in your heart? You might if you have ears to hear!

MONDAY MEDITATION TRUNCATED!

A prep for tomorrow's book study to keep me from talking more that listening or even talking in circles!

Pain Drains                    Drained!? Fill up with Fellowship

 

Don’t Live Digital Distracted Life (5 words or less)

 

Listen more to talk less. (5 words or less)

 

Travel Light      Lay aside every encumbrance

 

Fix Eyes on Jesus    Focus More on Jesus   

 JESUS + 0 = EVERYTHING!

 

More of THEE—Less of me   THINE—not mine

 

Jesus’ life: Paragon of Righteousness (5 words of less) 

(Blackaby. Experiencing God, p.235)

 

Get Daily Nourishment from Scripture (5 words of less)

 

Feed your faith and your doubts will starve. (David Stevens (1/28/24)

 

HOPE: journey to right destination. (5 words of less) Chuck Swindoll

 

Hope springs from truth rehearsed. (M. Vroegop, T.Billings Incurable Cancer 14)

 

HOPE: not wishful thinking, BUT…CONFIDENT EXPECTATION!

 

trUst       Do you trust me, Dotsy? 

 

Thrust of trust answers meandering thoughts.

 

A heap of worry staggers you.

 (Me, or us…choose own pronoun)

 

Meek is power under control. 

(Not an “in you face” encounter to another)

 

Move from Petition to Praise-----“ACTS” as in Tony Evans NOG  (5 words or less)

 

 

Dotsy THOTS--Trusting Him On This Subject

COLOSSIANS CALLING!

Recently more than 6 sermons I heard were preached from Colossians. 

The interesting part was that not all were at the same church or even in the same state. In fact, there were 6 different pastors. 

My, my! My spiritual interest was beyond piqued.Was God calling?

Until.....I received an email from an altogether different pastor with a picture.

That makes 7! The number 7 has many references in the Bible.

But.....the picture was taken at the Jordan Evangelical Theological Seminary prayer tower! 

Translated, from the Greek, the inscription reads:"Christ in you, the hope of glory"

The citation..........was from Colossians....1:27! Of course it was!!

I'm headed to get my Bible. Colossians is calling me! 

How about, you?

REJOICING IN GOD'S WORD!

God's word blesses my heart! Whether with words of praise/mercy or correction/conviction with severe mercy, I devoured, drank in, swallowed whole as a feast for my hungry soul from Yahweh Elohim TseBaooth. 

Your words were found and I ate them, and Your words became a joy to me and the delight of my heart; For I have been called by your name, O Lord God of Hosts. (Jeremiah15:16, NASB1995)

A "fave verse." It jumped off the page of my devotional book, Experiencing God.

Dubbed Morbid Mom, by my kids, this is a head's up to make sure this verse is on the cover of my funeral bulletin. A legacy for my kids and grands.

MONDAY MUSINGS!

After the "Billboard Beckoned" on Saturday we spent some time in....

this sweet and savory place! My camera took over to supply me with scripture and thoughts to think and rethink. Meditation. More for others than self as needs are great for many people in my life who need to be covered with prayer.

For readers, choose one for your own Monday musing.

 The cardinal one is for my KY family and friends having gone through many trials as a result of storms during severe weather days.*

God is worth it all.....even the wait for the storms to pass.

The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks him. (Lamentations 3:25)

In times of trouble it's good to remember to whom you belong.

All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.

(John 17:10)

Don't lose hope!

THINK ON THESE THINGS! (PHILIPPIANS 4:8)

*....or at least muse for a moment until your electricity comes back on and your recliner works again.....and thanks for making me laugh!

BILLBOARD BECKONS!

"On the Road Again." So Busy. So much fun! 

Seeing family w/ excitement. Leaving family w/ sadness. A plethora of mixed emotions.

So weary-ing. But God knew what I needed and used a billboard to draw me in.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed) and the evidence og things not seen.(Hebrews 11:1)

Bilboard's Beckonings with convincing convictions from a Scripture reference to FAITH in all caps! Plus, an earthly address with heavenly implications in a town named Hope..

More to come..........on Meditation Monday!

JOURNEYS!

Big Day! 2024 Big Year!

Graduations! Moving Forward in different ways! College. High School. Kindergarten. Pre-School. Graduates dear to a grandmother's heart from 4 different states. To hear the recent one have his entire name read for his diploma, I puddled! His middle name was my Mother's maiden name.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Then, you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with your whole heart. (Jeremiah 29:11-13)

Then....an adverb to hang your hat on for all "going forward" in their maturity, regardless of age, stage or way.

GRACE-PACE!

There's always much to learn on a "Teaching Tuesday." Today was a time of reflecting on a re-learning that needed to occur based on a recent faux pas.

My hurry-scurry "get it done" pace trampled my grace-pace. Reflection was needed for learning. Reflection takes time. Time adjusted from self-centered, people pleasing accomplishments to God-Centered time. 

I am yours, O Lord. May nothing touch my heart more than your love and acceptance. 

I need a breather from "doing." A lesson in mercy-math requires time.

Recounting God's acts of goodness and mercy, even severe mercy, were my "Teaching Tuesday" focus. 

Re-learning, has me remembering that the Lord loves me the way that I am, and all work is his work. His grace in me and through me fulfills His purpose for me---not self-aggrandizement or personal peace without interruptions. 

Yesterday, as I walked by the practically empty office on our new pastor's first day, "on the job," I peeked in to say, " welcome"....or was it more like barging in to interrupt his time of peace and reflection?  Regardless, he jumped right up with a smile on his face. 

Lesson learned from this brilliant, thoughtful, energetic, kind and courteous young man.

Lessons of grace from Pace to this old lady. 

His Grace-Pace shows how much I have left to learn about responding first to others over self.

TRUE REST!

Ever sense you need this reminder within daily eyesight!

More than permission for a Saturday nap !?

All "busy-ness" and no Sabbath rest makes this blogger wiped-out, irritable, discouraged. Take your pick! Even all three!

Look to Him! Accept His gift. Do the math! Even if you're not very got at it....your body can tell you when to slow down your moronic pace

. 

So....today I took a Saturday nap. The Lord was good to me and gave rest to my soul as well as my body. (Psalm 116:7)

The One who is my rest replenished my strength allowing me to spend time with Him.

True REST from the One who is REST!