TRUE TRUST!

Sometimes few words can say the most! 

Last year, the few words we were given for our first NC License plate were different from our request.

The couple in front of us asked for and received the last one.

When we renewed our tags, this year.....Voilà! Requested tags were available!

IN GOD WE TRUST.*

Those words say it all for hubby and me.

As he was changing our tags we noticed additional words---also with relevance!

'To Be Rather Than to Seem`

No facades needed in the life of a believer! Be who God created you to be... rather than seem to be someone you are not!

* IN God We Trust....national motto of the United States officially adopted by Congress on July 39, 1956

CHOOSE JOY!

JOY is a choice!

Joy of heart changes perspective.

Feeling battered by life's circumstances; joy can brighten your spirit.

Joy no matter what!

A joyful heart is good medicine, (Proverbs 17:22)----the best RX!

Choose joy as a way of looking at life.

Former neighbor, Art, corrected me when I labeled my fence as rotting.

He dubbed it weathered. He saw the beauty in it and took a photo, a needed reminder which I keep in my prayer room.

Gladness of heart, regardless = JOY!

WORDS OF WISDOM!

WOW = Words of Wisdom!

Can this be said of you? Do you speak wisdom?

True wisdom is from God's Word. It's seen as one walks in His way. It is heard when one speaks with humility to others. 

Wisdom is led and sealed by the Spirit of wisdom which enlightens a believers  heart. (Ephesians 1:17-18)

Words of Wisdom----a divine gift given to those who fear the Lord. (Proverbs 1:7)

Remember to thank Him in both words and actions!

BUT GOD.....AGAIN YOU SAY!

I know......... I already have "But God" ringing in your ears but I want all to know the pattern of the Christian life for all of us!

We are the tellers of His story!

AGOG! A Grid of Grace makes it possible. His Grid compels us

FLANNEL FRIDAY!

So grateful for today's crisp mountain air! According to the weatherman, it has something to do with the altitude. I don't even know what the altitude is here but I certainly feel the chill in the air.

How much easier it was to head out for our walk at Deep Creek knowing flannel would be my fabric of choice until I returned home!

The walk had another plus. It's the first time I had felt like a true resident of North Carolina. We met one of our "ridge" residents on the walk. We not only knew who they were along with their names and their kids' names but conversation ensued on the trail. His brother from Florida was visiting and he was able to share much info about my hubby with him as he introduced us. As athletic conversations followed, I chatted with both his wife and their perky 3 year old. We knew both the kids' grandmothers as well. 

More than just knowing folks "in passing" for both of us. 

A blessing of friendship on Flannel Friday!

I must not have heard the meteorologist say we would be able to discard the flannel in the afternoon but that's where I was headed---

RING A BELL PHRASES

BUT GOD blog entries, probably most of any---approx 150, always ring a bell when I hear that phrase! His love and mercy reminders spring forth!

Family and friends often share phrases and acrostics to "ring my bell" metaphorically to trigger my memory. Those ring loudly---think Terry @ Bryson City FBC LOUD!

Don't settle for safety; Jesus offers security. Amanda McElrath

God's Grace 

Keeps Pace 

with what we face. Brother Buddy

Gaze at God! Glance at all else. Carolyn W.

Let's let Acts go through us. 

Togetherness (fellowship) fulfills a longing for belonging. Son Buddy

W atch

A nd

I ncrease 

T rust        Bernie

Use Roundup on your bitterness rather than fertilizer. Scottie Smith

What I make much of is much to me. Andrew Beach

Be kind to one another. Nō-ah who was "fō-ah" 2008 (Eph. 4:32) 

PERPETUAL PRAYERS!

Perpetual prayers so easily come forth for peace as we face life or pray  for others who relish such prayers as well. 

Recently, alone on a damp precipitous perch while hubby and grandson, Owen. hiked near-by, I left behind all the petitions.

Praises came forth! For me, circumstances too often lead to pleas/petitions. I needed to be still and allow the Lord to touch my soul that praises might come forth from my inmost being. (Psalm 103:1)

Reflecting this morning on that time on the "cliff", a knock on the door got me out of my prayer chair. Neighbor, John, had found a letter in the grass----damp from several days of due. But God used it to bless me greatly. It was answer to one of my perpetual petitions and it prompted praise. I had been anxious for an update from her and here it was!

Petition ▶️ Prayer  ▶️ Praise ▶️ Prompts 

▶️Perpetual Prayers & Praise Together

May praises for Him always be on my lips! (Psalm 34:1)

FAITHFUL FRIENDS!

When life has been bumpy and one needs to trust His leading, trust can provide the answer! Sunday was such a time for me! A deliverance from fear of all the "what ifs" in life. A boost of new life provided by Him, through them.....Larry and Marge! We headed down Highland Rd. past Lick-Skillet thru curvy, steep mountain roads bringing tasty treats to share....but received much more! 

From the familiar tingle of patio wind chimes of the patio to the gamiliar gospel music as we walked thru the front door.

It felt like going home! Home to family, though not through physical blood, but true relationship through the blood of Christ for many years. It was Psalm 34 in action. God reunited hubby and me with a godly couple whom He has given long life. (very soon to be 97 for him & 95 for her) (Psalm 34:11-12, Proverbs 3:1-3 )

God's goodness to them has been obvious and they have passed it on. Praise to the LORD has continued as their souls boast in Him. (Psalm 34:1)

They have magnified the LORD and exalted His name together for as long as we have known them. (Psalm 34:3)

Through the years, they have given godly wisdom that has blessed us beyond measure.

Their door is always open whether in the mountains or in Florida.

Even as we left with hugs and teary-eyes they gave us their typical bell ringing send-off reminding us to return. Unable to upload that video yet.

A full long life of wisdom shared that afternoon, reminded me to turn to the Lord as my refuge and enjoy a worry-free life! I smiled all the way back down that curvy mountainous road to reality with renewed faith!

PRAYER REQUESTS!

In this "aging" season of life, (Aren't they all!?) most of my prayer requests have been for energy or strength. 

Sometimes we need a second wind, to make it through the age-related storms of life. For me, too often even a "first" wind is needed!

Those who wait-ESV (hope -CEB) (trust-CEV) for the LORD (ADONAI-CJB, Jehovah-DARBY, NOG-Yahweh) shall renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Without His leading with His "second wind" strength, such hypervigilance/overstimulation can cause flat-out fatigue!

Strength needed! His Strength!!

Strength for His Service....not self.

BUT GOD!!!

Once again, I sense that I have been sent to time-out.

But God in His love and mercy has been there with me!

He has given prayer warriors who stand with me! Some lead me with encouragement. Others stand behind me ready to catch me If I fall.

"But God" is in control of every aspect of life's disappointments!

But God, the greatest short phrase uttered in history!*

God's mercy flows from His own loving heart......

....not from anything I have done to deserve it

Hallelujah!

*uttered by Paul in Ephesians